POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles dropped their regular-season finale to the Marist Red Foxes, 1-0, on Wednesday afternoon.

The Purple Eagles (8-7-2, 6-4-0 MAAC), who entered the contest with a chance to finish in second place and receive a bye in the 2015 MAAC Tournament, will now play on the road in the first round on Saturday as the fifth seed against a team to be determined. 

The lone goal in the game came in the first half. Marist (7-10-2, 6-3-1 MAAC) nearly scored in the 33rd minute when Kerri McGinley's shot hit the post and seconds later, Claire Feiertag made a save on Kristen Reilly's rebound shot. Two minutes later, Hope Quinonez received a thru ball from Ashlee Burke and finished to the right corner.

Niagara had the better play, outshooting the Red Foxes 10-2, and majority of the possession in the second half as the Purple Eagles searched for the equalizer. Eva Bachman had a pair of shots blocked in the box at the 52nd minute. Niagara had a corner kick in the 80th minute when Shawnique Samuels's header in the six-yard box went over the bar. A minute later, Hayley Besaw shot outside of the box narrowly missed the upper right corner. Niagara's final scoring chance came in the 88th minute when Laura Ortiz header a cross wide of the goal.  

"I thought we showed great character in the second half of today's game," head coach Peter Veltri said.  "We played with the urgency that is necessary for us to win. I know come Saturday, we will be ready to go."

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